In the House – Thursday 21 June 2018

The House finished the week by again considering the Government’s compliance with orders for papers, and the House’s powers to compel the production of these documents – in particular Cabinet documents. The House also agreed to Assembly amendments to the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 introduced by Mr Green (Christian Democratic Party). This is the second time this Parliament that a private members’ bill originating in the Council has been agreed to by the Assembly. Several other items of private members’ business were considered, before the House finished the day by agreeing to the budget bills and returning them to the Assembly without amendment. The House stands adjourned to Tuesday 14 August 2018.

In the House – Wednesday 6 June 2018

In another eventful day for the Council, the House again considered the Government’s response to orders for the production of documents. The documents ordered are now expected to be provided by 5.00 pm Friday 8 June. The heavy legislative workload continued in the lead up to the winter recess, with the House adjourning after midnight for the second time this week. In a significant development, the House agreed to amendments to the Government Sector Finance bills. The amendments, if agreed to by the Legislative Assembly, would reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee as a joint parliamentary committee with members from both Houses.

In the House – Tuesday 5 June 2018

The week began with the House debating an issue of great significance for its role as a House of review: the Government’s response to orders of the House for the production of documents, and the House’s powers to compel the production of these documents. After a lengthy debate the House ultimately agreed to censure the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council for the Government’s non-compliance with these orders. The House then turned its attention to legislation, agreeing to three bills and forwarding them to the Assembly for concurrence.